Shira UngarIt’s a heady experience to take on a Europe train journey – you travel through spectacular landscapes and glorious architecture in luxury and style. The only question here is: you’re utterly spoilt for choice, so which epic Europe train journey to choose? Here are some of the most unforgettable travel experiences you can expect:
Danube Express: The Balkan Odyssey (Venice-Budapest)
An 11-day journey aboard this extensively equipped train includes stops in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Boznia, Slovenia, and Italy. Starting off your travel in romantic Venice, the luxury train’s route includes stops in the charming Trieste, Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana before heading to Sarajevo. A few stops later, when you roll into Budapest, you’ve seen epic views of the Great Hungarian Plain, rolling Carpathian Mountains, and ruins from the Balkan War.
The views are of diverse landscapes. Photo: AnnetteK via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Simon Pielow via Flickr
Jungfrau Express and Golden Pass (London-Switzerland)
One of the best ways to experience the Swiss Alps is to see it all – snow covered mountains and small valley villages – by rail. The Jungfrau Express takes you from Meiringen, one of the tallest train stations in Europe, down among the mountains of the Swiss Alps. With nine days to explore over nine different amazing travel locations and an opportunity to connect on other trains and a boat, the Jungfrau Express will certainly take you on a Europe train journey you will not forget.
Photo: © Jungfraubahnen 2017
The Chocolate Train (Montreux-Broc, Switzerland)
This tasty train will let you experience the culinary side of Switzerland. With stops at the Maison de Gruyere where you learn the secrets of Swiss cheese making, the town of Gruyere, and Maison Cailler in Broc where you visit the chocolate factory and partake in a truly life altering chocolate tasting. This is travel for the eyes as much as it is for the palate in a panoramic coach with views of gorgeous Swiss mountains at every turn.
Photo: Norio Nakayama via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Norio Nakayama via Flickr
Francisco de Goya: Hotel on Wheels (Paris-Madrid)
This luxury sleeper will take you from Paris to Madrid overnight. With amazing views of El Escorial, Sierra de Guadarrama, and the 2,600 meter Pico-Almanzor, it’s quite the travel experience. There’s a reason this train is nicknamed the Hotel on Wheels as some compartments have private bathrooms, personal climate control, and cabin service. This Europe train journey is a real must for any travel lover.
View of the Peñalara and its reflection in the Small Lake. Photo: Miguel303xm via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Andres Gomez via Flickr
Trans-Siberian Railway (Moscow-Vladivostok, Russia)
If 15 nights on a Russian adventure train sounds brilliant, then check out the Trans-Siberian Railway. Beginning in Moscow, this four-city journey includes views of thick forests and rolling hills. As you travel to the Chinese border, views of another gorgeous country come into proximity, making it quite an unusual travel itinerary. It’s also great for a truly immersive trip through Russia as most of the passengers are locals. For me, it’s a bucket list travel experience.
Photo: Boccaccio1 via Flickr
On the coast of Lake Baikal, Trans-Siberian Railway: the stretch between Utulik-Slyudyanka. Photo: Sorovas via Wikimedia Commons
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (London-Venice)
This Harry Potter-esque train from London to Venice is much more than a mode of travel. With stops in Folkstone and Paris, this two-day journey includes 6 full meals, wine, and full steward service in a vintage carriage. The route passes through the lush Kentish countryside and over the channel, through French villages and into Italy. There is no other luxury Europe train journey quite as glamorous as this one. Travel at its finest!
Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express hauled by an ÖBB Rh 1116 “Taurus” locomotive at Nendeln, Liechtenstein Photo: Kabelleger / David Gubler via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Honza Groh (Jagro) via Wikimedia Commons
Bergen Line with Flåm Railway between Oslo and Bergen via Flåm (Norway)
Widely known as the most beautiful railway journey in Norway, this 20km historic rail is also prized for its record height difference. The Flam Railway is the steepest train journey in the world. More than that, the travel route includes panoramic views of waterfalls, gorges, and the scenic Flam Valley. You can even take in the views of Aurlandsfjord which is a branch of the world’s largest fjord. Only 3-4 hours can get you a pretty incredible travel experience on the Flam Railway.
Photo: Karen via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Kenny Louie via Flickr
West Highland Line, Fort William to Mallaig (Scotland)
This 9 and a half hour journey is sure to take you all across the scottish countryside. With views of tall mountains, steep-sided lochs, and heather moors the route passes through the smallest villages and even places where no roads were ever built. And don’t forget, you will travel along the Glenfinnan Viaduct which was used in the Harry Potter movies as the Hogwarts Express!
Photo: Dallas Epperson via Flickr
By calflier001 [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Centovalli Railway between Locarno and Domodossola (Switzerland-Italy)
Travel on the Centovalli Railway’s two hour journey from Switzerland to Italy and take a peek at the scenic gorges, waterfalls, vineyards, forests, and alpine meadows. There is really everything to see on this 52 km ride including views of Lake Maggiore in Switzerland. The compartments are equipped with comfy chairs and have panoramic windows for the best travel views.
Centovalli. Photo: Roger W via Flickr
Photo: Ed Webster via Flickr
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